BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Babson has announced that
Michelle Smith will take over the head coaching duties of its
women's lacrosse program beginning on June 1.

A graduate of Trinity , where she received her Bachelor's degree in
2008 and her Master's in 2011, Smith began her coaching career with
a one-year stint as an assistant for the women's lacrosse program
at Dickinson in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She then returned to
her alma mater in 2009, where she has served as the assistant
women's lacrosse and field hockey coach for the last two years.

Smith enjoyed a legendary playing career at Trinity, leading the
Bantams' lacrosse team to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of
her final two seasons, including a trip to the regional finals in
2007. She was a three-time All-NESCAC and All-Region honoree, and
she was selected as a First Team All-American and the C. Kelly
Markland Award winner for the Division III Goalie of the Year in
2007. She graduated as the program's all-time leader in saves and
was named team captain in 2008.

In addition to collegiate coaching, Smith has been highly involved
in a number of lacrosse camps and clubs throughout the northeast,
including the Peak Performance Goalie Camp for the past five years
and the Elite 180 Girls Camp for the last three. She has also
coached the Nor'Easters Club Team in Hamden, Connecticut since the
fall of 2010.

Smith takes over one of Babson's most successful programs following
the departure of Kully Reardon, who will step down this May after
10 years at the helm of the Beavers. Under Reardon's guidance,
Babson posted an overall record of 112-65, including a spectacular
71-21 mark and five consecutive NEWMAC Championships and NCAA
Tournament berths since 2007.

Smith, whose brother Chris recently graduated from Babson as a
member of the Class of 2011, will also assist in the oversight of
the College's athletic facilities.

"By all accounts Michelle is a rising star in the lacrosse
community," says Director of Athletics Josh MacArthur. "Everyone
that we talked to about Michelle spoke highly of her character,
integrity, creativity and passion. The search committee had a
challenging task finding someone to replace Kully. I believe we
found the perfect individual to lead our women's lacrosse
student-athletes."

"I would like to thank Athletic Director Josh MacArthur and the
search committee for this wonderful opportunity," Smith says.
"Kully has established a rich tradition of success in her tenure
here and I am humbled by the chance to continue it. It is
with great excitement and enthusiasm that I begin to work with the
women's lacrosse student-athletes and the rest of the Babson
community."